UK MPs Vote to Ban Palestine Action as Terrorist Group

The UK House of Commons has overwhelmingly voted to proscribe the activist group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000, with 385 MPs in favor and 26 against. This move criminalizes membership or support of the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison, following Palestine Action's vandalism of military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, which the government says harms national security. The ban faces legal challenges, with Palestine Action seeking an injunction to block the proscription pending a judicial review, while United Nations experts and human rights groups warn the ban risks suppressing legitimate protest and dissent. Critics, including Independent MPs and the Independent Alliance, have condemned the measure as a disproportionate crackdown on civil disobedience and an assault on democratic rights, arguing it equates peaceful protest with terrorism and chills freedom of expression. Government supporters, including Security Minister Dan Jarvis, argue Palestine Action's tactics go beyond lawful protest, emphasizing the threat to national security and public safety. The bill now moves to the House of Lords, where it is expected to be debated and voted on before becoming law.